Valiente

“Luckily, The Pride Festival Carnival has been a massive success for the small town of Avalon and there are no injuries to report on this isolated situation,” reported Miss Drake with a concerned brow. “And now, I have an exclusive, eyewitness account of what happened here in House of Horrors. Avalon resident, Chente Jimenez, was trapped inside the building when the fire began, and is going to share his story with the viewers.” The camera panned away from Drucilla Drake and focused on Chente. “So, Chente how are you feeling, tonight? Please share with us what happened here.” Chente nodded, cleared his throat and looked into the camera. “Well, I am fine now, but I was trapped inside that when the fire started. I am so lucky that my brother and sister and Aaron Doss found me in time and freed me before... you know.” Drucilla Drake nodded decisively. “Well, tell me, how is it that you were even in the building to begin with. I understand that it was closed for repairs. Why would you enter it knowing that it was closed? Some people would call that trespassing?” “I was tricked.” The reporter gave Chente a quizzical look. “What do you mean that you were tricked?” “Well, there was a man dressed in a mine costume who led me to believe that my friends were waiting for me inside,” said Chente with a shrug. “I thought he was part of the carnival staff.” “And he wasn’t?” asked Miss Drake. “No,” said Chente. “I believe that the mine was part of the Ku Klux Klan instead. It was part of a master plan to get me inside.” “So, you think the KKK is responsible for all of this?” asked Miss Drake as she pointed to the bonfire behind her. “You’re saying that their intent or plan was to harm you?” Chente looked directly into the camera. “Yes, the KKK did all of this, and their intent wasn’t to harm me. Their intent was to kill me.” “Whoa,” replied the reporter. “Now, those are hefty accusations. Mr. Jimenez. How can, you be sure?” “Because, The Reverend told me,” said Chente. “Who told you?” “The Reverend told me. The Reverend is a cruel cult leader in the Ku Klux Klan. The Reverend is responsible for all of this,” said Chente. “And they trapped me inside a glass room in the House of … Horrors. The Reverend threatened me, my family and friends and told me that if we continued with Gay Pride festivities this weekend that someone would die.” Miss Drake was visibly stunned by Chente’s announcement. She cleared her throat and nervously looked into the camera, as her microphone hand began to shake. There was an awkward silence as she gawked at Chente, and stumbled to respond. She paused, smiled and her professional demeanor quickly reemerged. “To be clear, did I hear you correctly? Are you saying that this reverend person is affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan and threatened to kill someone if the Gay Pride Festivities continued?” “Yes,” said Chente. The investigative reporter nodded and exhaled. She paused for a thoughtful moment “Okay, so tell me, who is this reverend person? Can you identify them?” “No,” replied Chente as he shook his head. “He… or she… this person wears a dark hood and hides their face behind a white mask. So, I never saw their face.” The anxiety of this situation was beginning take its toll on Miss Drake, as she began to understand the magnitude of the moment. She was treading in dangerous water and was ready to end the interview. She nodded at Chente. “Okay, well this is certainly a different perspective to this carnival bonfire, and it gives our viewers some valuable information to consider. Now, tell me Chente, are there any final thoughts that you would like to share?” “Yes, I want to make sure that the citizens of Avalon know who is responsible for the fire tonight,” replied Chente with a stern nod. “I want them to understand that the same bully who came to town last year and killed Tre Washington and Principal Timms at our high school graduation, is back – making threats to do the same thing.” Chente looked at Miss Drake with chaos and resolution in his eyes. He deliberately cleared his throat. “And we must take a stand and fight back.” Chente paused, gathered his thoughts and then glared directly into the camera. With added conviction in his voice, Chente sent his final message. “I don’t take too kindly to being threatened. And since bullies only respond to strength, I am prepared to be much stronger.” Chente stopped, gritted his teeth and with added precision continued. “So, I issue my own warning to The Reverend and the rest of the clowns in the Ku Klux Klan. Avalon is my home town, and I love my community, my family and my friends. I am prepared to stand my ground and fight for all of them – so stay out.”